Can the UK Hit Its Emissions Targets?

The UK government has committed to reducing emissions in the country by two thirds by 2030. But is there any chance of that target being hit?

Its own advisers have their doubts. The government is being too slow at delivering on climate promises, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which says only a fifth of its pledges on climate change are being delivered.

The CCC is an independent group that advises the government on climate change issues, and has released two reports, saying time is running out. It is "absolutely critical" that a new strategy is published before the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November. The strategy must not be purely aspirational but should be accompanied by clear policy plans, backed by the government. It must go along with a commitment to "prepare the country for the serious climate risks facing the UK."

But for many, those risks still seem a long way away, whilst the actions needed affect can affect us more directly. Up to now, many of the steps to reduce emissions have not really hit us an individuals – wind turbines, a few electric cars and phasing out coal fired power stations doesn’t impact my day-to-day life too much.

However, to hit the target, I may well need to:

·         Only eat meat twice a week

·         Scrap my nice petrol powered car

·         Rip out my (very efficient and reliable) gas central heating boiler and put in something that may or may not work so well, at a cost of £10K

·         Stay at home rather than flying off for my holidays or indeed for business trips

That all starts to sound less attractive. And if the public becomes more aware that the UK only accounts for 1.1% of global emissions, a tiny amount compared to China, the US or India, I fear we could see a real backlash in the UK and perhaps other western nations. 

China is a real concern, accounting for some 28% of all global emissions. Although the country has promised that its emissions will peak in 2030 and then decline to carbon neutrality by 2060, 58% of its energy consumption comes from coal and China commissioned 38.4 GW of new coal plants in 2020. That is over three times the 11.9 GW total commissioned across the entire rest of the world put together! 

So why should the UK citizen go through “hardship” over the next decade whilst China focuses on economic growth and continues to increase emissions? Answering that question might prove tough for UK politicians.

In some of the Procurement with Purpose issues, we can see how companies are taking a very positive lead. Addressing the issues around plastic, for instance, or working to eliminate modern slavery and human rights abuses in the supply chain are issues where the private sector can and does make a real difference. But the issues around emissions have to be government led really and require tough decisions on policies that may not be attractive to everyone. Procurement can play a role, encouraging suppliers to address their own emissions, looking at policies around business travel, company cars and so on, but this will have to be led at a national level.

No doubt the Glasgow summit will end up with some noble declaration from the assembled dignitaries later this year. But if you want to dig beneath the surface, see if China has really made any new promises, and if there are real signs of that country reducing its dependence on coal sooner rather than later. That is key.